title: Otolaryngological, head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected patients seen at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of HIV infection. According to recent census statistics, 5.6 million people in South Africa (SA) are HIV-positive, the highest number of infected individuals worldwide. Over 80% of HIV-infected individuals will present with ear, nose and throat (ENT) manifestations. Previous studies show that oral diseases seem to be the most common ENT-related manifestation, reported in about 40 - 50% of HIV-infected patients. In SA, there is lack of local information regarding the otolaryngological and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain our local trends of ENT and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected patients seen at our specialised ENT-HIV Clinic, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, SA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1-year prospective study involving 153 HIV-infected patients was conducted in the clinic from January to December 2011. Patient history was taken and examinations were performed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) HIV/AIDS classification system. Data analysis was performed using Epi Info 7 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common manifestations were adenoid hypertrophy/hyperplasia followed by cervical lymphadenopathy, chronic suppurative otitis media, otitis media with effusion and sensory-neural hearing loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients typically presented with early manifestations during symptomatic WHO stages I and II in contrast to results reported in similar developing world studies from Iran, Nigeria and India. A possible explanation may lie in the SA government HIV Counselling and Testing campaign and the antiretroviral rollout programme, the effectiveness of which is becoming evident.
authors.affiliation: Tertiary Referral Centre, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa. mashudu.tshifularo@up.ac.za
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tshifularo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Govender
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult